Statutory MFL in the UK

[Helen Smith]

Hi everyone

Can someone just tell me when PMFL becomes compulsory in KS2? I thought it was KS2 but my dissertation supervisor says it came in this year??

Helen

[Lorraine]

Was going to be 2010 but I heard it was put back a year to 2011. Most schools are addressing the issue even if it's only buying in some software for the computer or buying a course which they just follow.

[Helen Smith]

Thanks Lorraine :-)

[Helen Smith]

Realised I made the fatal mistake of writing this when tired! I meant to say ' I thought it was 2010'...

[Helen]

I believe children have an entitlement starting from January 2010 but it's not compulsory till September 2011 but that is only Year 3. Year 4 will come on board the following year, then year5 and then year 6. Which means that it will take till september 2014 till all on board!

Seems a long time to me but that's what i've been told?!

Hx

[Jo Rhys-Jones]

Well actually the entitlement has already kicked in - if any parent makes a request to an English KS2 school now then they have a duty to provide lessons immediately.

However the 'statutory' bit - and really we are just getting into the semnatics of legal terminology, does not become full until 2011. By which time all of KS2 children from Year 3 to year 6 will be expected to have at least 60 mins of language teaching during curriculum time every week and to be making progress against a nationallly recognised scheme - so this could be National Curriculum levels or the Language Ladder or the CEF.

Ofsted & DCSF recognise that it may be a case for a tiny minority of schools that they begin rolling out from this date ie all of KS2 start at the same level (year 3 objectives) and then the next year the new Year 3 do Year 3 and the rest of the school start Year 4 etc.

[Helen Smith]

Thank you. And am I right in saying eventually children will be expected to leave school at a level recognised by the common reference framework?

[Jo Rhys-Jones]

Eventually yes - but it is all a bit vague at the moment, not least because new NC levels were out for consultation recently, and no-one wants to commit to whether we use the Language Ladder, CEF, NC levels or all three!
However big clues in that the renewed KS3 Framework begins with the assumption that if Year 7 have done 4 full years of the same language at their primary then they should be working around NC level 3/4.
Also the aim is that by the end of KS2 children attain 'Breakthrough' level (you can get the content specification from the Asset website) which would be a secure NC level 3. You can bet that Ofsted will almost certainly be judging the efficacy of teaching at KS2 on 'outcomes' ie levels achieved.

[Jan Lewandowski]

Hi Helen

Jo is spot on with her message. I left a reply on your blog page on Saturday. As you are local to me I'd be happy to help further. In fact I'm running a session at the University of Bedfordshire in January so might see you there!

Jan

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[Helen]

Just shows you can never be too sure of what you're told. Did say I thought it was earlier but was 'corrected!'

Thanks for clearing that up.

Hx